THE MASS:

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THE MASS The Early Church
Part IIIb The Mass of the Apostles-Ancient
Testimony
30 AD
250 AD
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Ancient Documents about the Celebration of the
Eucharist and Its Format Remain Today
Developments during this Era (90-100)
The Eucharist, Thanksgiving, appears to be the
best translation and theological emphasis.
The Eucharist is spoken of as a meal and is
equally referred to in its Sacrifice component.
Reference is made to offering Eucharist every
day.
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The Didache or Teaching of the Apostles
The Didache is a composite work, which has
evolved over a considerable period, from its
beginning as a Jewish-Christian catechetical
work, which was taken up and developed by the
Church into a manual of Church life and order.
The text was repeatedly modified in line with
changes in the practice of the communities which
used it. The Didache is also called the
"Teaching of the Twelve Apostles."  It was
possibly written around 90-100 and is believed to
be what the twelve Apostles taught to the
Gentiles concerning life and death, church order,
fasting, baptism, prayer, etc.  The work is
cited by Eusebius who lived from 260 - 341 and
Athanasius 293-373.  It seems to be referenced by
Origen who lived from 185-254. 
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Didache Antioch, Syria, c. 90-100 (Ch. 9 ) The
Thanksgiving Sacrament Now concerning the
Thanksgiving meal, give thanks in this manner.
First, concerning the cup We thank You, our
Father, For the Holy Vine of David Your servant,
Whom You made known to us through Your Servant
May the glory be Yours forever. Concerning the
broken bread We thank You, our Father, For the
life and knowledge Which You made known to us
through Your Servant May the glory be Yours
forever. As this broken bread was scattered over
the mountains, And was gathered together to
become one, So let Your Body of Faithful be
gathered together From the ends of the earth
into Your kingdom for the glory and power are
Yours forever. But let no one eat or drink of
your Thanksgiving, unless they have been
baptized for concerning this is taught, Do not
give what is holy to dogs.
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Didache Antioch, Syria, c. 90-100 (10 ) Prayer
after Communion After the meal, give thanks in
this manner We offer thanks, Holy Father, For
Your Holy Name which fills our hearts, And for
the knowledge, faith and eternal life, You made
known to us through Your Servant Yours is the
glory forever. Almighty Master, You created all
things for Your own purpose You gave men food
and drink to enjoy, That they might give You
thanks But to us You freely give spiritual food
and drink, And eternal life through Your Servant.
Foremost, we thank You because You are mighty
Yours is the glory forever. Remember Your Body
of Servants, to deliver it from everything evil
And perfect it according to Your love, and gather
it from the four winds, sanctified for Your
kingdom which You have prepared for it for the
power and glory are Yours forever. Let Your
grace come, and let this world pass away. Hosanna
to the God of David! May all who are holy, come
Let those who are not, repent. Maranatha. Amen.
But permit the prophets to make Thanksgiving as
they wish.
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Didache Antioch, Syria, c. 90-100 (Ch 14) The
Sabbath AssemblyEvery day, gather together, eat
a meal, and give thanks after having first
confessed your sins, that your sacrifice may be
pure. Discourage anyone who has a disputation
with his brother to gather with you, until they
are reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be
defiled. For this is the sacrifice that was
spoken of in our teaching In every place and
time offer to me a pure sacrifice for I am a
great King, and My Name is marvelous among the
nations.
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Developments during this Era (c. 110)
Established roles of the bishop, priests and
deacons.
The Bishop is the ordinary presider over the
celebration of the Eucharist.
Affirm the belief that the bread and wine are the
Body and Blood of Jesus in Eucharist.
Sunday is the day for the common assembly of
believers for Eucharist.
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The Eucharist in Ignatius Letters (c. 110)
About 107 A.D., a persecution the Church resulted
in the arrest of the bishop of Antioch in Syria.
His name was Ignatius. One of the harsh penal
practices of the Roman Empire, the bishop was
condemned to be delivered up to wild beasts in
the arena in Rome. The insatiable public appetite
for bloody spectacles meant a chronically short
supply of victims prisoners were thus sent off
to Rome to help fill the need.
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So the second bishop of Antioch was sent to Rome
as a condemned prisoner. According to Church
historian Eusebius (c. 260-c. 340), Ignatius had
been bishop in Antioch for nearly forty years at
the time of his arrest. This means that he had
been bishop there while some of the original
apostles were almost certainly still alive and
preaching. He was escorted by a detachment of
Roman soldiers. Ignatius was permitted to receive
delegations from local Churches in the cities of
Asia Minor. To each he wrote letters which still
exist.
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Magnesia

• Philadelphia

Polycarp
Tralles
He wrote seven letters to the local Churches on
the way to Rome. He wrote four letters from the
town of Smyrna, to the Churches in Ephesus,
Tralles, Magnesia, and Rome. He wrote to the
Church of Philadelphia and Smyrna from the town
of Troas, as well as to Polycarp, then the young
Bishop of Smyrna.
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Ignatius, To the Smrynaeans (Ch 6) Let no man
be deceived. Even the heavenly beings and the
glory of the angels and the rulers visible and
invisible, if they believe not in the blood of
Christ who is God, judgment awaiteth them also.
He that receiveth let him receive. Let not
office puff up any man for faith and love are
all in all, and nothing is preferred before them.
But mark ye those who hold strange doctrine
touching the grace of Jesus Christ which came to
us, how that they are contrary to the mind of
God. They have no care for love, none for the
widow, none for the orphan, none for the
afflicted, none for the prisoner, none for the
hungry or thirsty. They abstain from Eucharist
(thanksgiving) and prayer, because they allow not
that the Eucharist is the flesh of our Savior
Jesus Christ, which flesh suffered for our sins,
and which the Father of His goodness raised up.
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(Ch 7) They therefore that gainsay the good gift
of God perish by their questionings. But it were
expedient for them to have love, that they may
also rise again. It is therefore meet that ye
should abstain from such, and not speak of them
either privately or in public but should give
heed to the Prophets, and especially to the
Gospel, wherein the passion is shown unto us and
the resurrection is accomplished. (Ch 8)
But shun divisions, as the beginning of evils.
Do ye all follow your bishop, as Jesus Christ
followed the Father, and the presbytery as the
Apostles and to the deacons pay respect, as to
God's commandment. Let no man do aught of things
pertaining to the Church apart from the bishop.
Let that be held a valid Eucharist which is under
the bishop or one to whom he shall have committed
it. Wheresoever the bishop shall appear, there
let the people be even as where Jesus may be,
there is the universal Church. It is not lawful
apart from the bishop either to baptize or to
hold a love-feast but whatsoever he shall
approve, this is well-pleasing also to God that
everything which ye do may be sure and valid.
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Ignatius, To the Philadelphians (Ch 3-4) (Ch
3) Abstain from noxious herbs, which are not the
husbandry of Jesus Christ, because they are not
the planting of the Father. Not that I have found
division among you, but filtering. For as many
as are of God and of Jesus Christ, they are with
the bishop and as many as shall repent and enter
into the unity of the Church, these also shall be
of God, that they may be living after Jesus
Christ. Be not deceived, my brethren. If any man
followeth one that maketh a schism, he doth not
inherit the kingdom of God. If any man walketh in
strange doctrine, he hath no fellowship with the
passion. (Ch 4) Be ye careful therefore to
observe one Eucharist (for there is one flesh of
our Lord Jesus Christ and one cup unto union in
His blood there is one altar, as there is one
bishop, together with the presbytery and the
deacons my fellow-servants), that whatsoever ye
do, ye may do it after God.
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But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our
common assembly, because it is the first day on
which God, having wrought a change in the
darkness and matter, made the world and Jesus
Christ our Savior on the same day rose from the
dead. For He was crucified on the day before that
of Saturn (Saturday) and on the day after that
of Saturn, which is the day of the Sun, having
appeared to His apostles and disciples, He taught
them these things, which we have submitted to you
also for we have submitted to you also for your
consideration.
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Developments during this Era (c. 160)
Affirms the wine is mixed with water.
While the Eucharist celebration is in the
vernacular, the Hebrew Amen is preserved as an
acclamation.
Eucharist is taken by deacons from the
celebration to those who cannot attend.
The word Eucharist is used as the name for the
Breaking of the Bread.
Only baptized believers are admitted to the
Eucharist.
Distinguished clearly common bread and wine from
the Body and Blood of Jesus.
The distinction between the Jewish Sabbath and
the Christian Sunday is already made.
People contribute to a collection for the poor.
There is a Reader for scriptures the presiding
Bishop gives an instruction on the content of the
readings.
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One of the Oldest Ritual Texts of the Eucharist
Justin Martyr (c.100 - c.165) a Greek-speaking
non-Jewish young man living in Samaria (about
130). He met an old man who pointed out some of
the weaknesses in his philosophy. He showed
Justin how the Old Testament predicted the coming
of Christ but it was seeing the courage of the
Christian martyrs that finally convinced him.
Wearing his philosophers cloak he dedicated the
rest of his life to defending orthodox
Christianity against its philosophical opponents.
Justin earned his surname Martyr when he died
during the persecution of Christians by Marcus
Aurelius (r. 161-180) in about 165.
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Justin Martyr, First Apology (c. 155) Chapter
65 There is then brought to the president of
the brethren bread and a cup of wine mixed with
water and he taking them, gives praise and glory
to the Father of the universe, through the name
of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and offers
thanks at considerable length for our being
counted worthy to receive these things at His
hands. And when he has concluded the prayers and
thanksgivings, all the people present express
their assent by saying Amen. This word Amen
answers in the Hebrew language to genoito so be
it. And when the president has given thanks,
and all the people have expressed their assent,
those who are called by us deacons give to each
of those present to partake of the bread and wine
mixed with water over which the thanksgiving was
pronounced, and to those who are absent they
carry away a portion.
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Justin Martyr, On the Eucharist Chapter 66 And
this food is called among us Eukaristia the
Eucharist, of which no one is allowed to partake
but the man who believes that the things which we
teach are true, and who has been washed with the
washing that is for the remission of sins, and
unto regeneration, and who is so living as
Christ has enjoined. For not as common bread and
common drink do we receive these but in like
manner as Jesus Christ our Savior, having been
made flesh by the Word of God, had both flesh and
blood for our salvation, so likewise have we been
taught that the food which is blessed by the
prayer of His word, and from which our blood and
flesh by transmutation are nourished, is the
flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh.
For the apostles, in the memoirs composed by
them, which are called Gospels, have thus
delivered unto us what was enjoined upon them
that Jesus took bread, and when He had given
thanks, said, This do ye in remembrance of Me,
this is My body and that, after the same
manner, having taken the cup and given thanks, He
said, This is My blood and gave it to them
alone.
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Justin Martyr, Weekly Worship of the Christians
Chapter 67 And we afterwards continually remind
each other of these things. And the wealthy among
us help the needy and we always keep together
and for all things wherewith we are supplied, we
bless the Maker of all through His Son Jesus
Christ, and through the Holy Spirit. And on the
day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in
the country gather together to one place, and the
memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the
prophets are read, as long as time permits then,
when the reader has ceased, the president
verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation
of these good things. Then we all rise together
and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer
is ended, bread and wine and water are brought,
and the president in like manner offers prayers
and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and
the people assent, saying Amen and there is a
distribution to each, and a participation of that
over which thanks have been given, and to those
who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons.
And they who are well to do, and willing, give
what each thinks fit and what is collected is
deposited with the president, who succors the
orphans and widows and those who, through
sickness or any other cause, are in want, and
those who are in bonds and the strangers
sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of
all who are in need.
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The End of History of the Mass The Mass of the
Apostles, Part IIIb Go to History of the Mass
The Mass of the Apostles, Part IIIc